The Faces of the Fort Hood Tragedy

They ranged in age from 19 to 38 but most were in their young 20’s.

They came from all corners of the country, from New Jersey to Florida, from Texas to California, united by a desire to serve their country, and now, tragedy.

Profiles are emerging of the nine soldiers killed in a training accident when their truck overturned in floodwaters at Fort Hood Thursday.

Here is the information as released by the U.S. Army and their families:

PVT Eddy Raelaurin Gates 

PVT Eddy Raelaurin Gates, 20, was from Dunn, North Carolina andjoined the Army in December 2015. “I’m hoping that this is still a dream,” Gates’ mother, Marlene Strongs, told WRAL-TV.  

Gates was the homecoming queen at Triton High School.

 “I can’t say enough good things about her,” said principal Chip Magnum.

PVT Isaac Lee Deleon

PVT Isaac Lee Deleon, 19, was from San Angelo and the only native Texan among the victims. His Facebook page shows he was engaged to get married.

Staff Sgt. Miguel Angel Colonvazquez

Staff Sgt. Miguel Angel Colonvazquez, 38, the oldest of the victims, was from Brooklyn, New York. He served two tours in Iraq in 2005-2006 and 2011, and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008-2009 and 2013-2014.

• [NATL-DFW]Officials ID 9th Soldier Killed by Flood Waters During Training Accident

SPC Christine Faith Armstrong

SPC Christine Faith Armstrong, 27, was from Twentynine Palms, California. Her mother, Yolanda Armstrong, said, “We are very proud of her courage and compassion.”

Serving in the U.S. Army “was her passion,” she said.

Armstrong’s sister Tabatha Yeampierre said Armstrong was “the most caring person you’ll ever meet. She will be missed greatly.”

PFC Brandon Austin Banner

PFC Brandon Austin Banner, 22, was from Milton, Florida. He joined the Army in March 2014.

PFC Zachery Nathaniel Fuller

PFC Zachery Nathaniel Fuller, 23, from Palmetto, Florida, entered service in November 2015 and was assigned to his current unit at Fort Hood two months ago.

PVT Tysheena Lynette James

PVT Tysheena Lynette James, 21, listed her hometown as Jersey City, New Jersey. She entered the Army in November 2015.

Cadet Mitchell Alexander Winey

Cadet Mitchell Alexander Winey, 21, of Valparaiso, Indiana, was a West Point student and was at Fort Hood participating in leader training. He was a member of the U.S. Military Academy Class of 2018.

“He was clearly a rising leader in his class and a friend to everyone who knew him,” said West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen.

SPC Yingming Sun

SPC Yingming Sun, 25, was from Monterey Park, California and joined the Army in October 2013.